The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1947. DISCOVERY OF A NEW COMET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22510, 13 December 1947, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE TIMES." GISBORNE, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1947. DISCOVERY OF A NEW COMET

jSj”OT altogether for the reason that people of the older generations

are prone to believe that nothing' today is quite as good as it used to be, there will be disagreement with the opinion of the Dunedin astronomer, Mr. D. C. Berry, that the new comet visible in New Zealand is probably as bright as Halley’s. Mr. Berry also said that the comet was the brightest he had ever seen in his life. That may be so—it depends upon how old the Dunedin observer is. But anyone who beheld Halley’s Comet in 1910 —during its most impressive stage a truly magnificent spectacle in the southern sky—will for one moment agree that the new arrival can compare in either size or brilliance (as far as can be seen at the moment with the naked eye) with Halley’s. If there is a move afoot to establish bigger and brighter comets, the present one will have to come a good deal closer and show itself off to better advantage. Nevertheless the new comet is quite welcome —always provided it behaves itself as a well-conducted comet should. It offers a new sight in the heavens novel to young people, and can stimulate a healthy interest in something astronomical apart from the prosaic figures illustrating the financial and economic problems of the world today. Once Regarded as a Bad Omen

Fortunately people do not attach the same grim importance to comets as did ancient races. Aristotle and his followers thought comets were exhalations from the earth which had caught fire in the upper regions of the atmosphere. This view is not so surprising as it may now seem to us. The tail of a comet is longest and the comet itself is at its brightest when it is nearest to the sun. The comet can then be seen only shortly after sunset or before sunrise and, since its tail always points in the direction away from the sun, the comet will at that time be seen with its tail pointing upwards and appearing like a rising flame. It is not surprising that these strange apparitions, appearing suddenly and at rare intervals, were regarded as omens of misfortune—the harbingers of famine, pestilence, Avars, or the impending “death of Princes.” It used to be thought that a comet appeared, moved past the sun, and then disappeared never to return again. The proof that a comet may return and be seen again was due to Halley. Tlallej r ’s is the most famous of all comets. Records of its appearance at every return back to the year A.D. 989 have been found and, Avith a feAv gaps, it has been traced back to the second century B.C. Josephus recorded “a fiery sword hanging over Jerusalem” at the great siege in 170 8.C., an omen foretelling the destruction of the city. This was Halley’s Comet. It came again in March, 1066, and men thought it predicted the success of the Norman inA’aders; the English Avere frightened and the Normans encouraged by this sign in the heavens. In 1456 the comet Avas of extraordinary brilliance, its tail stretching half-Avay across the sky (a somewhat similar spectacle Avas observed in Ncav Zealand in 1910). It Avas in 1456 that Constantinople Avas taken by Mahomed 11, Avho proceeded to advance AvestAvard into Europe and to spread terror throughout Christendom; Tail Directed Away Prom Sun

An interesting point about the tail of a comet is that it does not folloAv the comet like smoke from a railway engine. The popular idea of a comet as a star Avith a tail of fire trailing behind it is entirely erroneous. The explanation of this is best left in the exact words of the Astronomer Royal, Sir Harold Spencer Jones, Avho in his book, “Worlds Without End,” states: “The tail seems to. spring from the nucleus and its brightness decreases rapidly Avith distance from the nucleus. As the comet gets still nearer to the sun the tail grows in length and becomes brighter. The structure of the tail is often complicated and liable to rapid changes. The tail is ahvays directed aAvay from the sun, as though it is repelled by some force emanating from the sun. . . . What happens as the comet moves round the sun can be imagined by Blinking of the analogy of a. spray of water coming out of the nozzle of a hose as the hose is SAvung round. The particles of Avater are continuously moving along the spray, and the spray is being continuously fed from the nozzle.” If these features of a comet are understood, amateur observers Avill no doubt be able to take a stronger interest in the neAv arrival. Perhaps the most significant fact is its Avelcome as a neAvcomer; it is not an old visitor on a return trip. It is apparent from recent messages that, astronomers everywhere are giving it their closest attention. This interest is, of course, purely scientific and reflects no apprehension over “eAul portents.” The Avorld may be in Avhat is commonly knoAvn as “a bit of a moss,” but no relationship betAveen that unhappy state of affairs and a comet is noAv permissible.